Helping a Choking Adult

Helping a Choking Adult
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Ask the person, “Are you choking?”
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If the person cannot speak, cough, or breathe
or is making high-pitched noises, it is
severe choking.
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For mild choking, encourage the person to cough
to clear the obstruction.
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For severe choking, stand behind or beside the
person and wrap one arm across the chest.
Bend the person forward.
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With the heel of your other hand, give 5 firm
back blows between the shoulder blades.
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If the object does not come out, place a fist just above
the belly button. Place your other hand over your fist
and pull sharply in and up, doing 5 abdominal thrusts.
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Continue the cycle of 5 back blows and 5 abdominal
thrusts until the object comes out or the person begins
to breathe or cough. If the person becomes unconscious,
call EMS/9-1-1 and start CPR.
The information on this poster does not replace
formal First Aid & CPR training.
To find a Red Cross First Aid course in your area
scan the QR code, or:
redcross.ca/firstaid |1.877.356.3226